MAN UTD 1, WEST HAM 0
(after extra time)
Substitute Scott McTominay fired Manchester United into the quarter finals of the Emirates FA Cup with an extra-time winner.
The Scot struck in the 97th minute to end the stalemate in far from a memorable fifth-round tie at Old Trafford.
The Reds dominated territorially but created little, though the full-time stats showed the goal attempts 17-3 in their favour.
And as with any David Moyes side, the Hammers were well organised and difficult to break down as it was a frustrating night until midfielder McTominay struck the decisive goal as he had found the net in each of the last three games.
It left former United manager Moyes still without a win at Old Trafford in his managerial career with a visiting team.
Embed from Getty ImagesUnited manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was delighted how McTominay had become a goalscoring midfielder with seven goals.
He said: “Scott has really developed that part of his game this season.
“He is a very good striker of the ball and a clinical finisher.
“Scott was a striker in his younger days, and you can see his authority.”
Solskjaer was pleased with the way his side overcame Saturday’s disappointment against Everton who equalised with the last kick of the game.
“Going through was the main thing but I was pleased how we bounced back, how we reset and the positivity we showed,” he said.
Solskjaer thought it was a merited victory, explaining: “I felt we dominated. I thought we were in complete control of the first half.
“In the second half it became more of a game. When it’s only 1-0 and we are wasteful, anything can happen to us – we knew that from the last game [Everton]. It’s just about finishing the game off but we’re through.
“I think we got about 15 to 17 shots in the end but we need to be more clinical. We should’ve finished the game off earlier and finished in 90 minutes but sometimes it doesn’t happen.
“We needed to have a good result and a good feeling today because we were low after the Everton game. It’s hard to take but they were really focused and did the job.”
United captain Harry Maguire said: “I thought the performance was good. We could have been a bit more clinical.
“They had a spell, but we dealt with it a lot better than at the weekend and we felt we got the win we deserved in end.
“Last Saturday was tough – especially in the second half. We were so disappointed with conceding with the last kick.
“We showed great spirit and a good mentality to come back and perform. We know it’s a long season and tonight was perfect. It’s important to get through.”
United made six changes from the 3-3 draw with Everton. David De Gea, Luke Shaw, McTominay Bruno Fernandes, Paul Pogba, Edinson Cavani all missed out.
There were recalls for Dean Henderson, Alex Telles, Donnie Van de Beek, Nemanja Matic, Fred and Anthony Martial
West Ham made just three changes from Saturday’s goalless draw at Fulham as on-loan Jesse Lingard misses out along with Said Benrahma and Michail Antonio.
The players taking their place were Mark Noble, Pablo Fornals and Andriy Yarmolenko.
The Hammers were forced into an early change when centre-back Angelo Ogbonna hurt his ankle making a block as Martial burst through on goal.
The Italian was unable to continue after lengthy treatment and was replaced by Issa Diop.
Mason Greenwood had a decent goal attempt which looked on target before it was blocked by Aaron Creswell.
It took al most half an hour before either goalkeeper was tested and then Hammers’ Lukasz Fabianski made a terrific stop to turn Victor Lindelof’s header on to the upright following Telles’ corner.
Surprisingly that was the only clear-cut chance of an opening half dominated by United who were unable to turn almost 70 per cent possession into goals.
Fabianski saved the Hammers again early in the second half with an important block to deny Marcus Rashford after Martial had flicked on a low Greenwood cross.
The Hammers had made four changes by the 54th minute due to a combination of injuries, three appearing to be through injury.
The visitors’ best chance was a sliced clearance from Aaron Wan-Bissaka which Henderson had to turn over the bar.
United were in desperate need of s creative spark and with 17 minutes left introduced Fernandes and McTominay for Matic and van de Beek.
And when those changes failed to make an impact, Cavani was introduced in place of Greenwood.
United changed both full backs at the start of extra time as Shaw and Brandon Willams took over from Wan-Bissaka and Telles.
The breakthrough finally came following a 97th minute counterattack which ended with Rashford’s back-heel flick releasing McTominay who found the net with a low drive, his seventh goal of the season.
The Hammers had their first on-target goal attempt in the 113rd minute, a free header from Benrahma but he could only direct it straight at Henderson.
United might have added a second with the last kick of the match as Fabianski denied Martial who had been released by Fred as the Reds had been picking off the visitors who had been forced to be more adventurous in the latter stages after falling behind.